Delta Air Lines will reduce some flights this summer due to high oil prices
The airline will suspend some flights and suspend some domestic flights this summer.
Passengers on a Delta flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Portland had a special night Friday after a woman went into labor on the flight.
The airline confirmed that a passenger on Flight 478 began having contractions mid-flight while en route to Oregon. The airline said she gave birth 30 minutes before the plane made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport around 10 p.m.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the flight attendants and medical volunteers who provided care to our customers on board the aircraft prior to our landing in Portland,” Sabrina Cole, a Delta spokeswoman, told local media. “The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority and we wish their families well.”
Medical personnel can intervene and help
Paramedics Tina Fritz and Karlin Powell were on their way home when they heard the call over Delta Flight 478’s medical intercom, Fritz said in a Facebook post about the incident.
The two vacationed in the Dominican Republic, then returned to Oregon and communicated through Atlanta, according to a photo posted by Powell.
Fritz said she and Powell were helping another passenger when a staff member approached them and asked if they could help a woman who was having labor pains. Fritz said her contractions were already three minutes apart and that somehow she and Powell were the best people on the plane to give birth.
“I asked for an OB kit and they didn’t have it. I asked for a blanket and they didn’t have it. So I was like, okay, I have to get a blanket from the passenger, I need shoelaces. So the flight attendant took out the shoelaces and cut them for us,” Fritz said in an interview with KOIN. “(The mother) was like, “I have to strain, I have to strain.” And after three really good strainings, the baby came out and was perfect.”
Fritz said in the post that the baby girl weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, was 18.5 inches long and was healthy.
“And the cutest thing ever,” she wrote.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Fritz told KOIN.
Can I fly on a plane while pregnant?
According to Delta’s policy, there are no restrictions on flying on the airline while pregnant. Pregnant customers do not need to carry a doctor’s note or note when flying with Delta.
However, it is recommended that you consult a medical professional before flying.
According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s generally considered safe to fly any time before 36 weeks, unless your pregnancy has additional complications such as anemia, high blood pressure, diabetes, or twins.
A medical professional may warn against flying after 36 weeks of pregnancy, and some airlines may require a doctor’s note to fly while pregnant. Doctors are concerned about blood clots and radiation, both of which can be more severe and severe on a plane, the Mayo Clinic said.
It’s important to review these requirements when planning your trip, wear your airplane seat belt, drink plenty of water, avoid gassy foods and drinks before your flight, and plan for emergency obstetric care if needed during your trip.
Eileen Wright covers Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as an Atlanta Connect reporter for USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. X Find her at @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
